Anderson delivers in ‘Sinatra’ tribute
On a night when Bob Anderson captured nearly every note and nuance of Frank Sinatra, bandleader Vincent Falcone was keeping a promise.
Anderson delivered a sensational “Sinatra: The Man, The Music” on the show’s opening night Saturday at The Palazzo.
Anderson’s masterful interpretation took ’em back in time.
Lorraine Hunt Bono, a lounge singer before she became lieutenant governor, said she lost it when Anderson sang “I Got You Under My Skin.”
“I broke into tears,” said Bono, who was in her early teens when she watched Sinatra countless times in the Sands’ famed Copa Room. She and her best friend, Carol Entratter, got to watch from the wings because Carol’s father, Jack Entratter, who called the shots at the Sands.
It was an emotional night, as well, for her husband, former entertainer and longtime radio show host Dennis Bono.
He owes his career to Sinatra. Bono was discovered back east by Sinatra’s right-hand man, Jilly Rizzo, who, along with Sinatra, got Bono hooked up as Don Rickles’ opening act in the late 1980s.
“Many impressionists, as good as they are, do 30-second snippets,” said Bono. “Bob literally becomes Sinatra for 90 minutes.”
“For those of us who knew him, it was surreal,” said Linda November, who was one of Sinatra’s backup singers.
For her husband, Artie Schroeck, the big moment came when Anderson sang “Here’s to the Band.”
Schroeck was such a fan that when Sinatra was appearing at the Resorts International in Atlantic City in the late 1970s, Schroeck would sneak into rehearsals by putting on a tuxedo and carrying an instrument case.
Schroeck not only wrote the music and lyrics to “Here’s to the Band” in 1980, but orchestrated the arrangement.
November said one of her most memorable recording sessions with Sinatra was when she sang high soprano on “The World We Know.” She also did the “Cycles.”
Veteran entertainer Clint Holmes and his wife Kelly Clinton said they were most struck by “once you get past the physical and vocal resemblance — both are amazing — what takes it to the highest plane is Bob’s acting.
“His attention to nuance is spot on, even his ad libs seem to come through Bob from Sinatra.
“We are both really proud of Bob, and Vinnie et al. We think the show has an opportunity to let a new generation have a taste of the golden age of Vegas.”
Holmes met Sinatra by happenstance in Monte Carlo in the late 1980s.
Holmes performed at a fundraiser in an audience that included Prince Rainier of Monaco, Sean Connery and Sinatra.
After Holmes’ finished, Sinatra was the first to stand up and applaud.
The next day Holmes was standing near a lobby elevator when Sinatra and his wife Barbara walked off the elevator.
He recognized Holmes, “playfully slaps my face and said ‘you were marvelous, marvelous.’ ”
Falcone, the bandleader for Anderson’s 32-piece orchestra, started as Sinatra’s pianist in 1975 and served as his conductor off and on for more than a decade.
Opening night with Anderson was “total joy, ecstasy,” said Falcone.
“It ranks right up there because it’s the culmination of a dream to recreate Frank’s music in a proper way, understanding how he wanted it played,” said Falcone.
“He said to me one time, if we don’t observe the dynamics of the music we’re just playing notes.
“That’s what he taught me and I’ve never forgotten that.
“If he had not gone into dementia, one of the things he planned was he wanted to take me with him to do master classes around the nation,” said Falcone.
“What he wanted and he told me many times, he wanted his music perpetuated.”
Falcone considers it a promise kept.
SIGHTINGS
Spotted at “Sinatra: The Man, The Music:” Johnny Galecki of “Big Bang Theory” and “Biggest Loser” reality show host Alison Sweeney (who played Jackie Harris in “Roseanne.”). … Galecki, dining at Restaurant Guy Savoy (Caesars Palace) on Friday. … Elijah Wood of “Lord of the Rings” fame, with friends Saturday at La Comida in downtown. … Actor Martin Lawrence and friends at Andrea’s (Encore at Wynn Las Vegas) on Saturday. Also at Andrea’s on Saturday: Australian photographer Peter Lik. … Lawrence, backstage after taking in Boyz II Men at The Mirage on Saturday. … Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears, meeting with “Absinthe” cast members Charlie Starling, Lea Hinz and Melody Sweets after Saturday’s show.
THE PUNCH LINE
“Musician Kid Rock came under fire for posting a photo of himself holding a cougar that he had just killed. People were outraged until they realized the cougar was one of the ‘Real Housewives of Orange County.’ ” — Conan O’Brien
Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Reach him at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more at normclarke.com. Follow @Norm_Clarke on Twitter.
